Parallel Lives

Kristo

“Hi, this is Kristo Balaban,” I replied smoothly. Even though I had been working in a pair of sweats all day, the person on the other end of the line didn’t have to know I’d been anything other than professional.

“Yes, we have the car you sent to the shop ready,” the voice replied. “Do you want us to drop it off? If you’re home now—”

“Yes, please do,” I said. “How long will you be?”

“Ten minutes?”

“Perfect, see you soon,” I replied and hung up the phone. I stretched and stepped away from the window, wondering how long I’d just been standing there thinking about her. Best not to linger on it. Any longer, at least.

I waited outside for the car to arrive and tipped my face up to the sun. The warm light on my face made me feel the way I did in her presence, soothed, comfortable, at peace. She seemed to ground me in a way no other person had in my entire life to date, to bring me back down to Earth when I needed it. To remind me there was a world outside the office, outside my famil